Error message

  • Deprecated function: implode(): Passing glue string after array is deprecated. Swap the parameters in drupal_get_feeds() (line 394 of /home/cay45lq1/public_html/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2405 of /home/cay45lq1/public_html/includes/menu.inc).

Feed aggregator

New forum topics

Designing delight: What product engineering looks like in 2026

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 05:15
Why human storytelling and intentional design matter more than ever in the age of AI.
Categories: Technology

'Rest in peace good buddy': original gen 1 Chromecasts are now failing after 13 years, as Google apparently pulls the plug

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 05:12
Support for the first-generation Chromecast ended a while ago, but now the gadget is falling for many users.
Categories: Technology

How AI agents are wrecking havoc in legacy security setups and enterprises are catching up

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:51
AI agents surge ahead as security lags, exposing enterprises to escalating data risk.
Categories: Technology

Airalo Review 2026: One eSIM for Every Trip

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:08

Airalo is an eSIM marketplace founded in 2019 that now serves more than 20 million customers across 200+ countries and regions. You buy a plan, scan a QR code, and your data connection is ready before you've even landed.

I've heard it from people I've met at hostels across three continents: Airalo just works. Reasonable speeds, no surprise charges, and support that picks up when something goes sideways. Most plans are data-only, so calls go through WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Skype.

  • Airalo is offering a 15% discount to all TechRadar readers on all eSIM plans with the code FUTURE15.
Airalo: Plans and pricing

Airalo offers a wide range of eSIM plans with competitive pricing that varies by destination, data allowance, and validity period. Plans come in three tiers: local (single country), regional (multi-country), and global. Airalo also offers unlimited data packages for many destinations, which the original pricing tables in most reviews overlook entirely.

Plan type

Region / Product

Data

Validity

Price

Global

Discover Global

3 GB

30 days

$24.00

Global

Discover Global

5 GB

60 days

$35.00

Local

United States

5 GB

30 days

$14.00

Regional

Europe

5 GB

30 days

$19.50

Unlimited

US (unlimited)

Unlimited

7 days

$11.50

Unlimited

Europe (unlimited)

Unlimited

7 days

$11.50

Unlimited

Asia (unlimited)

Unlimited

7 days

$11.50

Airalo's pricing is transparent with no hidden fees or contracts. If you are heading somewhere for a short trip where you know you will burn through data, unlimited plans can sometimes make more sense than stretching a fixed-data package.

Still, unlimited packages do have a fair usage policy that can throttle speeds once a daily data threshold is reached. As always, a local SIM remains the cheapest option in many destinations.

Airalo: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Airalo comes with a solid set of features built for frequent international travelers, especially those moving between multiple countries, who want predictable data costs and prefer to manage everything digitally rather than deal with physical SIM cards.

Here’s what the service actually offers:

  • Airmoney Rewards: Airalo's loyalty program, Airmoney, rewards users with cashback on every new purchase. The program has four tiers: Traveler, Silver Traveler, Gold Traveler, and Platinum Traveler. All tiers come with cashback rates of 5%, 6%, 7%, and 10%, respectively. Note that as of February 2025, unused Airmoney balances can expire, so it's worth keeping an eye on your balance if you travel infrequently.
  • Tethering Capabilities: Airalo eSIMs support tethering, allowing you to share your data connection with other devices via hotspots. This can be a lifesaver when you need to connect a device that doesn't have its own cellular data capabilities.
  • Global Plans: In addition to country-specific eSIMs, Airalo offers regional and global data plans that cover multiple countries. These are perfect for travelers visiting several destinations in a single trip, providing a smooth connectivity solution across borders.
  • Worldwide Network Access: Airalo works with network providers worldwide to keep people connected when they need international mobile coverage. Instead of relying on a single carrier, this partnership model lets you connect to local networks at your destination. This usually gives you faster speeds and more reliable service than what you get with regular international roaming from your home provider.
  • No Roaming Charges: Most primary mobile plans put a premium on roaming. Airalo sidesteps this entirely by offering flexible prepaid packages that let you stay connected without the bill shock. You choose the amount of data you need, pay upfront, and there are no surprise charges upon arrival. This makes it a far more predictable option than activating your carrier's roaming add-on.
Airalo: Installation

To get started, simply visit the Airalo website or app, select your destination, and choose a data plan that suits your needs. After creating an account and completing the purchase, you'll receive a QR code for your eSIM.

Installing the eSIM is a snap. Just scan the QR code using your phone's camera, and the eSIM will be automatically added to your device.

However, you should check the specific activation policy for the plan that you're purchasing from Airalo. While some plans activate immediately upon installation, others only start once you arrive at your destination and connect to a supported network.

Airalo: Coverage and speed

Airalo covers over 200 countries and regions, so you can connect to reliable local carrier networks instead of relying on hit-or-miss roaming agreements.

In practice, that means reliable coverage and consistently solid speeds, whether you are landing in a major tourist hub or somewhere far less predictable.

In most destinations I've used it, speeds were solid for Maps, messaging, and light browsing. Where it gets patchy is after you've hit the data cap on a fixed plan. Throttling kicks in, and it shows. 5G is available in the US and parts of Europe, but don't go in expecting it everywhere.

Compared to other eSIM providers, Airalo's coverage is among the most comprehensive. Its data speeds are competitive, with plans striking a good balance between global coverage and reliable performance.

Airalo: Support

(Image credit: Airalo)

Airalo offers 24/7 support in multiple languages via in-app chat and WhatsApp. Unfortunately, there’s no phone support.

I haven't had to contact support often, which is probably the best thing I can say about a connectivity product. When I did, the WhatsApp chat was faster than I expected. No phone support exists, though, so if something goes wrong mid-trip, you're working through chat. Worth factoring in before you buy.

One thing Airalo gets right is accessibility. The app is available in 53 languages and supports multiple currencies, which makes it far easier for non-English speakers to navigate than most competing eSIM providers.

Airalo: Final verdict

Airalo is not always the cheapest option on the market. If you're heading to one country for two weeks, a local SIM will probably beat it on price. That's just the truth.

But that's not really who Airalo is for. It's for the person who's hopping between three countries in ten days and doesn't want to think about connectivity at all. Buy once, land anywhere, connect immediately. The app is genuinely well built, the Airmoney rewards add up if you travel regularly, and the unlimited plans are a solid recent addition.

Airalo’s not perfect, but I think it's currently the best and easiest eSIM option available.

Airalo: FAQsIs Airalo eSIM legit?

Yes, Airalo is a well-established company founded in 2019 as the world's first eSIM store. They have a proven track record of providing eSIM data plans to travelers in over 200 countries and regions, and have served more than 20 million customers to date.

Should I install Airalo eSIM before traveling?

Whether you should install your Airalo eSIM before traveling depends on the specific eSIM's activation policy. If the eSIM's activation policy states "The validity period starts when the eSIM connects to any supported network(s)", then you can install it before traveling without activating it. Otherwise, wait to install the eSIM until you're close to your departure date to minimize data loss with Airalo.

How can I find out if my device supports eSIMs?

To find out if your device supports eSIMs, go into your device settings and see if there's an option to add a new SIM digitally. On iPhones, look under Cellular or Mobile. On Samsung, it's in the SIM Manager. On a Pixel, head to SIMs and look for "Download a new eSIM." If the option isn't there, your device likely doesn't support eSIMs, and no amount of workarounds will change that.

What does "carrier-locked" or "network-locked" mean?

No, Airalo's app includes security checks that detect jailbroken or rooted devices and may refuse to run on them. You can still buy an eSIM through Airalo's website, but you'd need a separate, unmodified device to actually install and use it.

Can I use Airalo with a jailbroken or rooted device?

No, Airalo's app includes security checks that detect jailbroken or rooted devices and may refuse to run on them. You can still buy an eSIM through Airalo's website, but you'd need a separate, unmodified device to actually install and use it.

Categories: Reviews

What is the 'tarps off' trend that men are engaging in? Find out in the quiz

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:01

Plus: The L.A. mayoral race, AI court battles, extinct animals and Eurovision!

Categories: News

Canadian Grand Prix: How to Watch the Formula 1 Race Live on Netflix

CNET News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:00
Get ready, race fans. Formula 1 action is coming to Netflix this weekend.
Categories: Technology

As voters prioritize cost of living, focus on abortion evolves in midterm elections

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:00

There's been a shift in attention in the party ahead of the midterms as voters rank affordability the top issue. That raises questions about what an evolving message on reproductive rights looks like.

(Image credit: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

Categories: News

A stranger's compliment helped her feel confident after chemo

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:00

When Pat Gentile began to grow out her hair after chemotherapy, she was nervous to go to work for the first time without a wig. An unexpected encounter with a convenience store stranger changed that.

Categories: News

'We'll never know if he could have been saved.' The gaps in Trump's rural health fund

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 04:00

Republicans promise that $50 billion in new health funding will help rural America. But it's not expected to aid the years-long effort in North Carolina's Martin County to reopen its only hospital.

(Image credit: Sarah Jane Tribble)

Categories: News

Vibe coding works best when we treat it like a 3D printer – you read that right

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:52
As more enterprises experiment with vibe coding, rapid prototyping might be its best use case.
Categories: Technology

Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' ends with a swan song and a giant wormhole

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:50
Late Show finale.'/>

With a dash of sci-fi, Colbert ended his CBS late-night show with a powerful musical sendoff featuring Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste.

(Image credit: Scott Kowalchyk)

Categories: News

Morning news brief

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:44

Senate breaks for recess, delaying vote on ICE funding, DNC releases 'autopsy' of 2024 presidential election, a look at Trump's political -- and personal -- interest in Cuba.

Categories: News

'That's Aaron's redbud': Father remembers son with tree planted in his honor

NPR News Headlines - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:42

A father talks about the tree in his front yard that honors the memory of his son who was killed in Afghanistan.

Categories: News

'Stop thinking of agents as software... start thinking of them as a unit of labor': Zendesk links AI pricing to verified resolution outcomes

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:40
The company will only charge for support interactions successfully resolved by AI agents, a major shift for enterprise software.
Categories: Technology

How to watch T20 Blast 2026: Free streams, fixture list for cricket season

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:00
All the ways to watch T20 Blast 2026 live streams online – including for FREE – as holders Somerset lead us into a new era set to a rejigged format.
Categories: Technology

When might The Mandalorian and Grogu be released on Disney+?

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 03:00
TechRadar predicts when the first Star Wars movie in almost seven years will make its Disney+ debut.
Categories: Technology

Amazon has slashed up to 37% off top-rated fans from the likes of Dyson, Shark, and Dreo — in time for the heatwave this weekend

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 02:00
These are the fan deals I'd suggest to help you beat the heat.
Categories: Technology

I tried Samsung’s huge Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and its disappointing chipset lets down an otherwise fantastic media and gaming machine

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 01:36
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: Two-minute review

If you need a big tablet, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which sports a gigantic 14.6-inch display that offers a 16:10 aspect ratio, which not only offers plenty of screen real estate compared to alternatives like iPads but also makes the S11 Ultra perfect for watching widescreen movies and shows. Of course, the large screen also lends itself well to productivity and gaming as well.

Staying true to Samsung’s other ‘Ultra’ devices, the Tab S11 Ultra brings all the bells and whistles to justify its high asking price. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, an S Pen stylus is included in the box, while the full Galaxy AI suite takes advantage of the larger display with features like screen sharing in Gemini Live and drawing tools like Creative Studio and Sketch to Image. It also retains the IP68 water- and dust-resistant rating from its predecessor, which is still rare for most modern tablets. Granted, these features are also available in the smaller (and cheaper) 11-inch Tab S11, so it’s hardly the reason why you would buy the much larger Ultra.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

Otherwise, this is another iterative update from the Tab S10 Ultra, which was a disappointment in itself. Our tester wasn’t happy with the older tablet’s lackluster battery life and the MediaTek processor in our Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review. The good news is that the Tab S11 Ultra has better CPU performance and the battery lasts 1.5-2 hours longer, but the bad news is that MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ doesn’t compare well with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is faster. And that makes me question Samsung’s decision to switch from Snapdragon CPUs in the Tab S9 series to MediaTek in the 10th- and 11th-generation slates.

Admittedly, the MediaTek provides better graphics performance, and can also handle ray-tracing better than the Snapdragon to reinforce the Tab S11 Ultra’s gaming focus but, when compared to a similarly priced iPad Pro with an Apple M5 chip — a desktop-class CPU that is more powerful than many Windows laptops — the Tab S11 Ultra feels overpriced even for a top-of-the-line tablet.

The minor upgrades come with a price hike over the S10 Ultra, and you won’t be able to reuse the older cases and keyboards from the Tab S10 Ultra and Tab S9 Ultra because of the thinner chassis, so you’d have to shell out more cash for new ones.

If you want the biggest, best display to run Android apps and games on, and watch widescreen movies and shows, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a great choice, but if you want to run pro-level software, you’re better off with a similarly priced iPad Pro.

Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • Available since September 2025
  • Price starts at $1,299 / £1,269 / AU$2,099
  • A 5G model is also available in the UK and Australia from £1,419 / AU$2,349

With a starting price of $1,299 / £1,269 / AU$2,099 for the base model featuring 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is Samsung’s biggest and most expensive tablet to date, comparable to the iPad Pro 13-inch that will set you back $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,199.

In some aspects that’s a win, given that the Samsung offers 65% more screen area with the 14.6-inch display, but the flip side to that is the OLED display on the iPad Pro is brighter and sharper.

An S Pen stylus is included in the box with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, while an Apple Pencil is sold separately for $129 / £129 / AU$219. It’s a nice bonus, as is the fact that Samsung does multitasking better than Apple.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

However — and this is the biggest issue I have with the S11 Ultra’s price — the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset is a disappointment compared to Apple’s M5 silicon in the iPad Pro, and it doesn’t even top the Apple M4 in the iPad Air, which is $300 / £300 / AU$650 cheaper.

The larger screen makes the Tab S11 Ultra a good laptop replacement, but Samsung sells the accessories separately. You can pick up a slim keyboard and case combo for $199.99 / £189 / AU$399 or an aluminum Pro Keyboard that makes the Tab S11 Ultra work like a laptop for $349.99 / £329 / AU$599. That added cost makes that combination more expensive than more powerful laptops, including ones with discrete GPUs.

Unless you need a water-resistant tablet or if your games are only available on Android, it’s hard to justify the price tag for the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. I think the older Tab S10 FE is a much better buy at $449 / £429 / AU$849.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra configurations

RAM/Storage

12GB/256GB

12GB/512GB

16GB/1TB

Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

$1,299 / £1,349 / AU$2,299

$1,319.99 / £1,299 / AU$2,299

$1,619.99 / £1,549 / AU$2,799

  • Value: 3/5
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: specs

Starting price

$1,299 / £1,349 / AU$2,299

Screen size

14.6 inches

Resolution

1848 x 2960 pixels

Operating system

One UI 8.5 on Android 16

Chipset

Mediatek Dimensity 9400+

Memory (RAM)

12GB / 16GB

Storage

128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB

Display

14.6-inch AMOLED 120Hz

Weight

692g / 695g (5G model)

Battery

11,600mAh

Charging

45W wired

IP Rating

IP68: 1m underwater for 30 minutes

Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: display

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • Massive 14.6-inch screen makes for a big and heavy device
  • Samsung retains Wacom tech for the S Pen

Like its predecessor, I’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger and better display on an Android tablet than the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra’s huge 14.6-inch OLED screen. It’s even brighter than the S10 Ultra’s 930 nits (now 1600 nits), which is the same as the M5 iPad Pro.

The screen brightness is great indoors, which is a given for most tablets these days, but it was also bright enough to use outdoors. I watched an entire movie during a 3.5-hour bus ride while at a window seat and I didn’t have to draw the curtains in.

If you are considering a tablet as a laptop replacement, the Tab S11 Ultra gives you more screen space than a 14-inch Macbook Pro and outdoes its competition in the similarly priced iPad Pro. The latter, however, has a sharper OLED screen with a 264 pixel per inch density, compared to 239ppi on Samsung’s display.

Because it’s from Samsung, the Tab S11 Ultra has HDR10+ support, while iPad Pros favor Dolby Vision.

Samsung has also retained Wacom’s electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology for its S Pen, meaning the stylus is passive and it doesn’t need a battery to write or draw with. That said, no battery means the S Pen doesn’t support Bluetooth anymore — just like the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s included S Pen.

  • Display: 5/5
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: design

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • Water-resistant design
  • Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

A tablet this size prioritizes the viewing experience over design, which means the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra isn’t anything special to look at. I like the clean design, but otherwise it’s just a big slab, much like every other Android tablet I’ve seen.

Like the Tab S10 Ultra, the S11 Ultra has four direct-firing speakers hidden around the edges to provide full stereo stage audio when the tablet is in landscape mode for movie watching. During testing, the audio sounded clear and full-bodied, and was loud enough to fill a medium-sized room, and I never felt like I had to reach for my headphones or hook the tablet up to a portable speaker.

The tablet now has just one front camera instead of two from the Tab S10 Ultra, which in turn reduces the notch size. The camera is still in the centre of the Tab S11 Ultra’s long side to favor landscape orientation for video calls, providing a natural head-on eyeline. Apple’s iPads, on the other hand, have cameras on the short side (meant for vertical or portrait orientation).

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

The Tab S11 Ultra retains the same button layout as the S10 Ultra, with power and volume on the top edge in landscape mode (or the right edge when in portrait orientation).

The S Pen attaches to the Tab S11 Ultra on its edges magnetically instead of having a dedicated strip on the back like on the S10 Ultra, similar to how an Apple Pencil attaches to iPads. However, I would recommend buying Samsung’s back cover if you want a more secure way to store the stylus via a recessed groove to cradle it — I found the magnetic attachment wasn’t strong enough and the S Pen would invariably come away when traveling with it in my bag.

As mentioned, the Galaxy S11 Ultra can be used as a laptop replacement thanks to its large screen and Samsung sells keyboard cases that will cost you extra. During my testing, however, I paired it with a wireless keyboard (Logitech MX Keys Mini) and used a laptop stand to prop it up and it was fine, but hardly a setup portable enough to bring to a cafe.

  • Design: 4/5
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: software

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • The best tablet software for multitasking
  • Now has more gaming-specific software

Samsung’s One UI software, running on top of Android 16, is packed with features that shine on a big tablet compared to a smaller smartphone display. I found multitasking to be a breeze, with up to three split-screen apps (one large, two small) running at the same time, and five pop-up windows can be layered on top of these. That’s a total of eight active apps all at once! Tiling and arranging windows are as easy as dragging them where you want them to go.

Like other Galaxy Tabs, apps and conversations can be opened via pop-up bubbles, and the S Pen enables pop-up notetaking when you just need a quick. I used it for work research and taking notes in Samsung Notes, and the process was easy and comfortable.

To test the multitasking, I joined a video call on one side while playing a game on the other, and also had a YouTube video in a floating window. The Tab S11 Ultra handled all applications well, with no crashes or slowing framerates.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

While Samsung’s operating system is great, I couldn’t really think of too many Android apps that would truly maximize the large screen. I downloaded the drawing and painting app Krita, and the display accommodated the extensive menus and the canvas well to make it look like the app’s desktop version. I also downloaded the video editing app LumaFusion, and the tablet’s screen was able to display a longer timeline, although this really isn’t the best example for recommending an expensive tablet as I think most people would find an app like LumaFusion would be fine on a smaller screen too.

It’s evident that Samsung also made this tablet with DeX (desktop experience) in mind, where you can either use the mode on the device itself to emulate a laptop-like interface or with an external monitor plugged in. DeX looks like a hybrid of Windows and macOS, with both a persistent taskbar and a floating dock with app icons available at your disposal. My favorite feature is being able to snap windows to the side to take an entire half of the screen, or a corner to automatically resize into a quadrant.

DeX runs the tablet’s apps in windows, which can result in some weird ‘stretching’ when you maximize some apps that aren’t fully supported. One workaround I found is to forgo the apps altogether and just open their web version with the Samsung Internet browser (instead of Chrome) to load their desktop versions. This extra layer of friction takes points away from the Tab S11 Ultra as a true laptop replacement, and you may be better off getting the real thing.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

One UI 8.5 now provides a real dual-screen mode on DeX while you plug in an external monitor, where the cursor can move through both screens, and windows can be dragged and dropped from one display to the other. Some apps now adapt depending on the screen, defaulting to desktop mode on the external monitor, then reverting to the touch-optimized version when the window is moved to the tablet.

As someone who finds that a single display just doesn’t cut it anymore for productivity, this mode made the Tab S11 Ultra a viable work machine during my testing.

When Samsung said this tablet was aimed at gaming enthusiasts, it sure meant it. One UI 8.5 introduced new gaming software in the Tab S11 Ultra, including per-game CPU and GPU tuning, native controller mapping and High-Performance mode. There’s also MediaTek HyperEngine to customize ray-tracing and variable rate shading, as well as some AI-powered features to let you skip game intros and automatically mute ads found in free-to-play games.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

I tested several of these features and, while they didn’t improve my experience with the games I tried, I can see them being potentially beneficial for competitive multiplayer gamers.

Of course, there’s the full Galaxy AI suite, headlined by a dedicated button found on the Samsung keyboards to activate Gemini or Bixby. A few Galaxy AI features maximize the Tab S11 Ultra’s size, like Sketch to Image (which converts sketches to an AI-generated image), Note Assist (cleans up handwriting) and Math Solver (more room to show complex equations and graphs).

Like most of Samsung’s phones and tablets, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has 7 years of support, which includes 7 generations of Android/One UI upgrades, security patches, hardware support and self-repair. Since tablets are usually replaced less frequently than a smartphone, long-term support like this is welcome indeed.

Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: performance

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • Decent for Android, but nowhere near the iPad Pro
  • I wish this had a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset instead

As I’ve already mentioned, Samsung has once again used a MediaTek chipset in the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which puts it at a disadvantage over the iPad Pro with its desktop-class Apple M5 chip — which is more powerful than many Windows laptops. While the Dimensity 9400+ is a decent mobile processor and a meaningful upgrade over the Tab S10 Ultra’s Dimensity 9300+ (Samsung is claiming a 15-20% CPU boost), the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra doesn’t come close to the M5’s performance.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ is designed for gaming and marketed to gamers, and while it wins some benchmarks on the graphics side, it falls short on processing performance compared to even Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon CPU being used in Samsung’s phones. Again, given its high asking price, it’s hard to justify the S11 Ultra for gamers only and I question why the South Korean tech giant didn’t use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from the Galaxy S25 Ultra handset instead.

Geekbench rates last year’s S25 Ultra higher than the Tab S11 Ultra in three out out of four benchmarking tests, beating the tablet in single-core (2,847 vs 2,633), multi-core (9,408 vs 8,633) and even the GPU-focused Vulkan (23,871 vs 22,023). The only test the Tab Ultra wins is in OpenCL, which also measures GPU performance, with a score of 20,468 versus the S25 Ultra’s 17,871.

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)

And that was evident in my testing. A resource-intensive game like Asphalt Legends ran very smoothly at max settings. However, its on-screen controls felt unwieldy and it’s better used with a third-party controller — so it’s good news that Samsung has improved external controller support with the S11 Ultra. The flip side to this is that you would have to lug around an additional item if you want to play while on the move.

With a tablet being able to dissipate heat better than a phone, I can only imagine how much better the Snapdragon 8 Elite could have performed in the same tests without the same thermal throttling it has to deal with in a smartphone chassis. Samsung could have also considered the laptop-class Snapdragon X processors found in the Samsung Galaxy Books if the company wanted to match the tablet up with the iPad Pro. Instead, the Tab S11 Ultra remains a mid-range tablet with a giant screen like the Tab S10 Ultra.

Even taking the M5 iPad Pro out of the equation, it’s hard to justify the S11 Ultra over a similarly priced laptop with better specs, like the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU ($1,249 / £1,150 / AU$2,199). Not to mention, the Lenovo includes a keyboard, while the Tab S11 Ultra needs the $349.99 / £329 / AU$599 Samsung Pro Keyboard to become a serious contender as a true laptop replacement.

  • Performance: 3/5
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: battery

(Image credit: Future | Nico Arboleda)
  • More battery life than the Tab S10 Ultra despite the slimmer chassis

Battery life on the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has improved a little from its predecessor, thanks to an extra 400mAh in the new pack and the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ being a more power-efficient chipset. I tested the battery by streaming a 1080p video with the screen at full brightness, and it took 11 hours for the Tab S11 Ultra battery to drain. In comparison, the Tab S10 Ultra lasted 9 hours in a similar test done by our Future Labs last year.

The 45W fast charging also topped up the battery just as quickly, with the Tab S11 Ultra reaching 20% in 15 minutes, 35% in 30 minutes, and full at just 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Tab S10 Ultra has the same 45W rating, while the M5 iPad Pro is officially rated at 40W, (though Apple claims it can support up to 60W fast charging with higher-wattage power adapters like a MacBook power brick).

  • Battery: 4/5
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra?Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra report card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

You get a whole lot of screen for the money, and there’s an included stylus — but it’s too expensive for what you get

3 / 5

Display

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has a big, beautiful display that’s excellent for drawing and playing games on.

5 / 5

Design

Thinner and lighter than its predecessor, it’s also water-resistant and durable, something that iPad is.

4 / 5

Software

Samsung makes the best tablet software, and it’s close enough to using a desktop for productivity work. It still can’t run pro-level apps like Final Cut, Logic Pro, Affinity Photo unlike iPad Pros

4 / 5

Performance

The MediaTek chip here is better than the predecessor, but disappointing compared to Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra phone and the current iPad Pro.

3 / 5

Battery

Battery life is better with an extra 2 hours over its predecessor, and the 45W fast charging can fill it back up relatively quickly.

4 / 5

Buy it if

You play a lot of Android games
If you play a lot of games on an Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra offers a fantastic big-screen experience and impressive performance with new gaming software.View Deal

You want a work tablet that’s easy to use
An Android tablet has an easier-to-master software setup than a Windows tablet, and work accounts are easy to load, just like you would on your phone.View Deal

You want to draw, play and have fun
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a big tablet for fun, like doodling, gaming and playing with AI. The IP68 rating makes it more durable, too.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You need a serious productivity tool
If you need real power and performance, you’re better off with an iPad Pro or iPad Air.View Deal

You can get a deal on the Tab S10 or S9 Ultra
This is almost the same tablet as the past few years, so if you find the Tab S10 Ultra or Tab S9 Ultra for much cheaper, just buy one of those instead.View Deal

​​You want a laptop replacement
The Tab S11 Ultra’s keyboards are expensive additions that can make the cost a lot higher than a similarly specced laptop.View Deal

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 UltraWhy you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I used the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra for two weeks as a work tablet and my main device for watching content and gaming outside of office hours. I also brought it with me on a holiday to watch movies and play games while in transit. I loaded it with my work accounts and apps, including Slack and Google Meet. I also downloaded SimCity Build It, Age of Empires Mobile and Asphalt Legends — as well as streaming games via Steam Link — to test the gaming features. I paired the tablet with an 8BitDo controller via Bluetooth to complete my gaming setup for this review.

To test the tablet’s durability, I dunked it in my kitchen sink filled with water and rinsed it repeatedly. I did not get the Samsung keyboard with trackpad cover as a test unit, but I paired it with my Logitech MX Keys Mini keyboard and a Logitech MX Anywhere mouse to test it as a laptop replacement. The Tab S11 Ultra was also connected to my ZSUS portable USB-C monitor. I independently tested and benchmarked the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, using software like Geekbench and a battery test for video playback.

First reviewed May 2026

Categories: Reviews

I tried Samsung’s huge Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and its disappointing chipset lets down an otherwise fantastic media and gaming machine

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 01:36
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra’s huge screen is fantastic, and is a great tool for consuming media, gaming and productivity, but you can get a more powerful iPad Pro for a similar price.
Categories: Technology

Anker's new feature-packed earbuds come in two flavors, both with screens on the case — but don't be distracted by the outside, because the exciting news is under the hood and on your phone

TechRadar News - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 01:00
Anker Day 2026 brings two new pairs of earbuds, as well as a smartphone tie-in app and news of new components.
Categories: Technology

Pages

Subscribe to The Vortex aggregator